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How the stressed-out brain can weaken the immune system

Stress leads to disarray of the gut microbiome, which in turn causes inflammation and a drop in the body’s ability to fend off infection.
  1. Sara Reardon
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Stress can make people feel sick, and bacteria in the gut might be to blame, according to a study1 in mice. The research suggests that a stressed brain directly shuts down specific glands in the gut, affecting gut bacteria and the body’s broader immune system.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02557-5

References

  1. Chang, H. et al. Cell https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.019 (2024).

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